Consumer Watchdog

Daily Journal – State Bar action is overdue in city attorney corruption scandal

By DAILY JOURNAL https://www.dailyjournal.com/articles/379087-state-bar-action-is-overdue-in-city-attorney-corruption-scandal The State Bar of California is confronting its most significant test yet in proving its reformation efforts. This…

Insurance Business – Consumer organizations warn lawmakers about California budget trailer bill

By Abigail Adriatico, INSURANCE BUSINESS https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/us/news/breaking-news/consumer-organizations-warn-lawmakers-about-california-budget-trailer-bill-492457.aspx Six consumer organizations have issued a warning to California state senate and assembly leaders regarding the possible…

Los Angeles Times – Restaurants may be able to keep service fees if menu shows the charges

By Jon Healey, LOS ANGELES TIMES https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2024-06-06/restaurants-may-be-able-to-keep-service-fees-if-menu-shows-the-charges#:~:text=Under%20the%20proposal%20by%20Sen,%2C%20“clearly%20and%20conspicuously.” A new state law (opens in new tab) to prohibit hidden surcharges and other “junk fees” tacked onto…

San Francisco Chronicle – State Farm will let some Californians keep home insurance after all. But there’s a big catch

By Megan Fan Munce, SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE https://www.sfchronicle.com/california/article/state-farm-insurance-fire-19497029.php Some State Farm customers in California who were bracing to lose their home insurance…

VC Star – Elias: Planned insurance rule makes consumer reviews meaningless

By Thomas Elias, VC STAR https://www.vcstar.com/story/opinion/2024/06/03/elias-planned-insurance-rule-makes-consumer-reviews-meaningless/73937497007 In the insurance business, there are different kinds of black boxes. One is literally a small…

CalMatters – Newsom Seeks to Speed Up Rate Reviews to Fix California’s Battered Homeowners Insurance Marketplace

By Levi Sumagaysay, CALMATTERS Gov. Gavin Newsom has proposed legislation to speed up insurance premium rate reviews as he and the Insurance…

The San Francisco Standard – ‘People are freaking out’: Newsom’s insurance crisis bill lets carriers hike rates faster

By Jillian D’Onfro, THE SAN FRANCISCO STANDARD https://sfstandard.com/2024/05/30/california-insurance-crisis-new-newsom-trailer-bill Gov. Gavin Newsom just released part of his solution to California’s home insurance crisis,…

Sacramento Bee – Newsom administration releases plan that could speed up California insurance price increases

By Stephen Hobbs, SACRAMENTO BEE https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article288612641.html Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration released a highly-anticipated proposal meant to speed up California’s review of price…

San Francisco Chronicle – Newsom wants to ‘stabilize’ California’s insurance market. Here’s how it would work

By Megan Fan Munce, SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE https://www.sfchronicle.com/california/article/newsom-home-insurance-19484197.php# Gov. Gavin Newsom has provided new details this week on his proposal to bolster California’s insurance…

Insurance Journal – New Language in California Budget Seeks to Expedite Insurance Rate Filing Approvals

By Insurance Journal Staff https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/west/2024/05/29/776151.htm#:~:text=The%20new%20proposal%20requires%20the,suggested%20rate%20in%20120%20days. Insurers are praising new trailer bill language in the California budget that promises to expedite the home…

Mercury News – Newsom’s plan to accelerate rate hikes ‘invites insurance companies to set their own prices,’ advocacy group contends

By Ethan Baron, MERCURY NEWS Gov. Gavin Newsom’s new proposal to speed approval of rate hikes for most types of property insurance…

KOVR-SAC (CBS) – Sacramento, CA: Tackling California’s Insurance Crisis

CalMatters – Newsom unveils plan that would hasten insurance – rate reviews — and increases

By Levi Sumagaysay, CALMATTERS https://calmatters.org/economy/2024/05/california-insurance-crisis-2 Gov. Gavin Newsom has proposed legislation to speed up insurance premium rate reviews as he and the…

KCBS-AM (Radio) – San Francisco, CA: The Governor’s New Insurance Plan Will Not Get Insurance Companies To Cover Californians

By Staff Reporters, KCBS-AM – San Francisco, CA  Click below to listen to the audio of this radio broadcast segment.

Politico – How Newsom Ending Up Siding With Insurers

By Camille Von Kaenel, POLITICO https://www.politico.com/newsletters/california-playbook-pm/2024/05/29/how-newsom-ended-up-siding-with-insurers-00160534?nname=california-playbook-pm&nid=00000177-6f21-d412-abff-6ff78f190000&nrid=0000014f-890a-d780-a9ef-9d7a82c30000&nlid=2693079 HITTING A CRISIS POINT: The wildfire insurance problem in California has gotten so bad that Gov.…

The Los Angeles Times – California consumer group blasts insurance bill backed by Newsom

By Laurence Darmiento, LOS ANGELES TIMES https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2024-05-29/consumer-group-blasts-insurance-bill-backed-by-gov-newsom A bill backed by Gov. Gavin Newsom that is intended to halt more exits from…

KNX-AM (Radio) – Los Angeles, CA: Governor Gavin Newsom Proposed Reforms To The Insurance Rate Hike Review Process

By Staff Reporters, KNX-AM – Los Angeles, CA  Click below to listen to the audio of this radio broadcast segment.

Los Angeles Times – Column: Unaffordable homeowner’s insurance is leaving Californians exposed to the elements

By George Skelton, LOS ANGELES TIMES https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-05-27/column-unaffordable-homeowners-insurance-is-leaving-californians-exposed-to-the-elements SACRAMENTO —  Memorial Day weekend means the start of summer vacations — and also the onset of wildfire…